Parliamentary questions

Student Grant Scheme Expenditure

Charlie McConalogue

257. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a student who has completed a level eight degree can avail of funding to pursue a higher diploma; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22431/13]

Vocational Education Committees Staff

Eoghan Murphy

258. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills when he will consider taking direct action into the number of outstanding issues and reported ongoing irregularities (details supplied) regarding the conduct of County Cork Vocational Education Committee. [22442/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Catherine Murphy

259. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the situation regarding a school (details supplied) in Dublin 15, whereby parents have been informed that tuition funding for the school may be terminated; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the school provides an exceptional service which is relied upon not only by families in the Dublin area, but also in Kildare and West Wicklow where autism services are severely lacking; if he will commit to ensuring the continued operation of the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22449/13]

Higher Education Authority Report

Joanna Tuffy

260. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify in the report School Completers What Next the way the following students categorised and also the way the study tallies with research carried out by the Higher Education Authority who were due last year to publish a report as part of its Who goes to College series of reports last published in 2006 those reports having previously detailed the socio economic background of college entrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22462/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Michael McGrath

261. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the procedures in place to ensure that every child on the ASD spectrum receives an appropriate school place as near as possible to their home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22515/13]

Bullying in Schools

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

262. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date regarding the preparation of anti-bullying procedures for schools being undertaken in his Department; if he is confident that these will be introduced in schools in September, as previously advised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21761/13]

Bullying in Schools

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

263. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if any consideration has been given to bringing forward to first-year second level classes the current range of transition year led projects aimed at combatting bullying and cyber-bullying; if these initiatives could apply in both first and transition years as a matter of course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21765/13]

School Curriculum

Seamus Healy

264. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reverse his decision to refuse to sanction the post leaving certificate programme for 2013/2014 at a college (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22637/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Seamus Healy

265. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that all children with Down's syndrome attending mainstream primary schools have access to specifically allocated resource teaching hours with effect from the start of the coming school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22638/13]

Student Grant Scheme Representations

Tom Fleming

266. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a full/special maintenance grant was not issued by Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22690/13]

School Health and Safety Issues

Michelle Mulherin

267. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the services Medmark provide to his Department to get school employees who are off work due to illness to return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22696/13]

School Curriculum

Michael Lowry

268. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will detail the reasons a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary has not been approved to offer a post leaving certificate programme for 2013/2014; if he will reconsider this decision in view of the fact that between 15-20 students have expressed an interest in this course; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a teaching post will be lost if this course is not sanctioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22703/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Clare Daly

269. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the criteria relating to guaranteed resource learning hours for students with Down's syndrome was altered in 2005; and if he will rectify that situation by recognising Down's syndrome as a low incidence disability. [22714/13]

Schools Amalgamation

Brian Stanley

270. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the likely starting date for the construction of the new school to accommodate amalgamated schools (details supplied) in County Laois. [22717/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Brian Stanley

271. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the likely starting date for the construction of a school (details supplied) in County Laois which is scheduled for sometime in 2014/2015. [22718/13]

School Accommodation

Brian Stanley

272. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will bring forward the starting date from 2015/2016 for the replacement building in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare due to local circumstances. [22719/13]

Schools Building Projects Expenditure

Brian Stanley

273. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to the Exchequer and public funds to build and operate, using a public private partnership, the two post primary schools at Borris Road, Portlaoise, County Laois, including the payments that were to be made when the schools were completed in 2010 and the monthly payments that were to be paid for the duration of the contract. [22720/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Brian Stanley

274. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider recognising Down's syndrome as a disability in its own right and that children that are diagnosed with it receive the necessary support and resource hours in the education system. [22721/13]

State Examinations Issues

Bernard Durkan

275. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if suitable and reasonable accommodation needs will be arranged in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of their upcoming leaving certificate examinations, whose needs have been confirmed and supported by their educational psychologist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22722/13]

Student Grant Scheme Representations

Tom Fleming

276. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a special maintenance grant was not issued by Student Universal Support Ireland in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22732/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Billy Kelleher

277. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline special needs assistants or other assistance available to children of school going and preschool age who are profoundly deaf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22740/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Billy Kelleher

278. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline the grants or special assistance available to main stream schools who have to accommodate profoundly deaf children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22741/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Catherine Murphy

279. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a specific policy decision has been taken to give absolute priority to new build primary and secondary schools over the extension of existing schools; if this is the case, when this decision was taken; if there are any exceptions to this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22747/13]

Schools Building Projects Status

Peter Mathews

280. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to sanction a permanent building in respect of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 16; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22773/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Willie O'Dea

281. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that funding has not been as yet been secured for further education of students completing their education at scools (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22774/13]

Student Grant Scheme Appeals

Denis Naughten

282. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a grant appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay; the reason for the failure of Student Universal Support Ireland to respond to correspondence on this appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22776/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

283. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of personnel in whole-time equivalent terms in his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the following earnings brackets: less than €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,001 to €90,000, €90,001 to €100,000, €100,000 to €125,000, €125,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €175,000, €175,001 to €200,000, €200,001 to €250,000, €250,001 to €300,000, €300,001 to €350,000, €350,001 to €400,000, €400,001 to €450,000, €450,001 to €500,000, and more than €500,000. [22787/13]

Student Grant Scheme Applications

Thomas P. Broughan

284. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a determination will be made on a grant application in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22821/13]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Mattie McGrath

285. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration has been given to an application for emergency works funding in respect of roof repairs for a school (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if funding will be granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22827/13]

School Staffing

Finian McGrath

286. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will investigate allegations of malpractice as raised from a case (details supplied). [22829/13]

FÁS Safe Passes

Gerry Adams

287. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to any issues arising where an English company will not accept a FÁS safe pass card; if the FÁS safe pass card is recognised in Britain; if there is an agreement in place with Britain or other EU member states to allow for mutual recognition of FÁS safe pass cards in respect of health and safety awareness training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22836/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Eoghan Murphy

288. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering giving an automatic qualification of individual teaching hours for all children with Down's syndrome. [22861/13]

Departmental Expenditure

John McGuinness

289. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills the individual amount of overtime paid in the case of each political/Ministerial appointee for the period 2007 to date in 2013 relative to his office and the office of the Minister of State; if such payments were made to the Secretary General and advisors, and if so, the amounts for the same period. [22873/13]

Building Regulations Compliance

Dominic Hannigan

290. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the new school building for a school (details supplied) will be fully accessible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22999/13]

Emergency Works Scheme Applications

Éamon Ó Cuív

291. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the review of an application in respect of emergency funding for a school (details supplied) in County Galway will be decided in view of the urgent need for these works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23002/13]

Site Acquisitions

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

292. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has now completed the acquisition of land for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23010/13]

School Accommodation

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

293. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will take immediate action to provide improved accommodation for a school (details supplied) in County Kildare or, if it is his intention to provide a new school at this location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23027/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Finian McGrath

294. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children with Down's syndrome attending mainstream primary school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23036/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Finian McGrath

295. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding issues with autism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23041/13]

Fee Paying Schools

Peter Mathews

296. Deputy Peter Mathews asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that no changes will occur to the way fee paying schools are funded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23042/13]

Student Grant Scheme Administration

Tom Fleming

297. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applicants for third level education grants from County Kerry; the number of students that have been paid grants and college fees to date; the number that were refused; the up to date position regarding the number of students who sought to appeal and were accepted as valid appeals; the number of students that have been requested to supply further information on their claim to proceed or to confirm that they are still seeking a grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23044/13]

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Finian McGrath

298. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he approves of the use of a restraint method Figure of Four and TMAV technique as an intervention for children with autism who have toileting or self-harming issues; if his attention has been drawn to any school that provides education for children with autism where this method is being employed; if there is documentation on the numbers of children, the duration of use and the outcomes for the children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23057/13]

Preschool Services

Michael Lowry

299. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will clarify his comments made regarding the cutting of child benefit; if he will make his intentions clear with regards to the future of child benefit; if child benefit will be cut in order to fund additional free pre-school care; if he will clarify the current status of these proposals and if costings have been undertaken; if his attention has been drawn to the distress, fear and upset being caused as a result of these reports; if his attention has been drawn to the importance of child benefit in assisting families in keeping their heads above water; if he will give an assurance that child benefit will not be cut any further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23067/13]

Garda Stations Closures

Michael Healy-Rae

300. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding a submission from Beaufort Community Council, County Kerry, with regard to proposals that they have for the Garda station which is now closed in supporting their proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22208/13]

Croke Park Agreement Issues

Brendan Griffin

301. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following the rejection of Croke Park two if retirement grades will still apply to serving civil servants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22402/13]

Public Service Contracts

Peadar Tóibín

302. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the reason a more expensive contract was awarded to a company (details supplied); if he will detail the method by which the prices tendered by competing companies are aggregated for the purposes of scoring the price section of a tender. [22413/13]

Public Sector Staff Remuneration

Róisín Shortall

303. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the number of personnel in whole-time equivalent terms in his Department and in bodies under the aegis of his Department in each of the following earnings brackets: less than €20,000, €20,001 to €30,000, €30,001 to €40,000, €40,001 to €50,000, €50,001 to €60,000, €60,001 to €70,000, €70,001 to €80,000, €80,001 to €90,000, €90,001 to €100,000, €100,000 to €125,000, €125,001 to €150,000, €150,001 to €175,000, €175,001 to €200,000, €200,001 to €250,000, €250,001 to €300,000, €300,001 to €350,000, €350,001 to €400,000, €400,001 to €450,000, €450,001 to €500,000, and more than €500,000. [22794/13]

Departmental Expenditure

John McGuinness

304. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the individual amount of overtime paid in the case of each political/Ministerial appointee for the period 2007 to date in 2013 relative to his office and the office of the Minister of State; if such payments were made to the Secretary General and advisors, and if so, the amounts for the same period. [22880/13]

Health and Safety Inspections

Terence Flanagan

305. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if there are regular health and safety checks carried out at petrol stations here; the person responsible for carrying out these checks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22149/13]

Employment Rights Issues

Joe Higgins

306. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures in place to ensure that parliamentary staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas enjoy the same protections from employment law as well as due process to prevent summary dismissal from Deputies. [22224/13]